Bed that is Folded and Expanded Easily and Quickly

ABSTRACT

A bed includes a base unit, two frame units each having a first portion pivotally connected with the base unit, two leg units each pivotally connected with a second portion of a respective one of the two frame units, and two support units each having a first portion pivotally connected with the base unit and a second portion pivotally connected with a respective one of the two leg units. Thus, the base unit, each of the two support units, each of the two frame units and each of the two leg units construct a four-link mechanism so that the bed can be expanded for use and can be folded when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture and, moreparticularly, to a bed.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional bed comprises a support frame, four legs mounted on fourcorners of the support frame, and a mattress mounted on the top of thesupport frame. However, the conventional bed has a fixed structure andcannot be folded so that it occupies a larger volume when not in use,thereby causing inconvenience in packaging, storage and transportationof the bed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bed,comprising a base unit, two frame units each having a first portionpivotally connected with the base unit, two leg units each pivotallyconnected with a second portion of a respective one of the two frameunits, and two support units each having a first portion pivotallyconnected with the base unit and a second portion pivotally connectedwith a respective one of the two leg units.

The base unit includes a support rod, two upright posts mounted on twoopposite ends of the support rod, and two connecting brackets eachmounted on an upper end of a respective one of the two upright posts.Each of the two frame units includes a support frame having a firstportion pivotally connected with the two connecting brackets of the baseunit, and two mounting brackets mounted on a second portion of thesupport frame. Each of the two leg units includes two support legs eachpivotally connected with a respective one of the two mounting bracketsof the respective frame unit, and a connecting rod mounted between thetwo support legs. Each of the two support units includes a mountingsleeve mounted on the support rod of the base unit, and a support bracehaving a first portion connected with the mounting sleeve and a secondportion pivotally connected with the two support legs of the respectiveleg unit.

The first portion of the support frame of each of the two frame units isformed with two connecting holes each pivotally connected with arespective one of the two connecting brackets of the base unit by aconnecting pin. Each of the two support legs of each of the two legunits has an upper end formed with a pivot hole pivotally connected withthe respective mounting bracket of the respective frame unit by a pivotpin. Each of the two support legs of each of the two leg units has alower end formed with a pivot bore. The second portion of the supportbrace of each of the two support units is provided with two pivot pieceseach pivotally connected with the pivot bore of a respective one of thetwo support legs of the respective leg unit by a pintle. The base unitfurther includes two limit rings each secured on the support rod of thebase unit and each abutting the mounting sleeve of a respective one ofthe two support units to limit the mounting sleeve of the respectivesupport unit on the support rod of the base unit. The support brace ofeach of the two support units has a diameter smaller than that of thesupport rod of the base unit, that of the support frame of each of thetwo frame units and that of each of the two support legs of each of thetwo leg units. The bed further comprises a mattress mounted on the twoframe units and supported by the support frame of each of the two frameunits. The base unit has a substantially H-shaped profile. The supportframe of each of the two frame units has a substantially U-shapedprofile. Each of the two leg units has a substantially H-shaped profile.The support brace of each of the two support units has a substantiallyinverted V-shaped profile. The base unit, each of the two support units,each of the two frame units and each of the two leg units construct afour-link mechanism.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bed thatis folded and expanded easily and quickly.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the baseunit, each of the two support units, each of the two frame units andeach of the two leg units construct a four-link mechanism so that thebed can be expanded for use and can be folded when not in use, therebyenhancing the versatility of the bed.

According to another advantage of the present invention, a user onlyneeds to lift the base unit to fold the bed so that the bed can befolded easily and quickly, thereby facilitating the user folding thebed.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bed as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front operation view of the bed as shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the bed as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective folded view of the bed as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bed in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a bed inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention ismade of metal and comprises a base unit 1, two frame units 3 each havinga first portion pivotally connected with the base unit 1, two leg units4 each pivotally connected with a second portion of a respective one ofthe two frame units 3, and two support units 2 each having a firstportion pivotally connected with the base unit 1 and a second portionpivotally connected with a respective one of the two leg units 4.

The base unit 1 is disposed between the two frame units 3 and isdisposed between the two support units 2. The base unit 1 has asubstantially H-shaped profile and includes a support rod 11, twoupright posts 12 mounted on two opposite ends of the support rod 11, andtwo connecting brackets 13 each mounted on an upper end of a respectiveone of the two upright posts 12. The support rod 11 of the base unit 1is located between the two upright posts 12. Each of the two connectingbrackets 13 of the base unit 1 has a substantially U-shapedcross-sectional profile. Each of the two connecting brackets 13 of thebase unit 1 is located above the support rod 11.

Each of the two frame units 3 is located between the base unit 1 and arespective one of the two leg units 4 and includes a support frame 31having a first portion pivotally connected with the two connectingbrackets 13 of the base unit 1, and two mounting brackets 33 mounted ona second portion of the support frame 31. The support frame 31 of eachof the two frame units 3 has a substantially U-shaped profile, and thetwo connecting brackets 13 of the base unit 1 are pivotally connectedbetween the support frames 31 of the two frame units 3. The firstportion of the support frame 31 of each of the two frame units 3 isformed with two connecting holes 32 each pivotally connected with arespective one of the two connecting brackets 13 of the base unit 1 by aconnecting pin 34. Each of the two mounting brackets 33 of each of thetwo frame units 3 has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile and islocated under the support frame 31.

Each of the two leg units 4 has a substantially H-shaped profile andincludes two support legs 41 each pivotally connected with a respectiveone of the two mounting brackets 33 of the respective frame unit 3, anda connecting rod 44 mounted between the two support legs 41. Each of thetwo support legs 41 of each of the two leg units 4 has an upper endformed with a pivot hole 43 pivotally connected with the respectivemounting bracket 33 of the respective frame unit 3 by a pivot pin 45.Each of the two support legs 41 of each of the two leg units 4 has alower end formed with a pivot bore 42. The connecting rod 44 of each ofthe two leg units 4 is disposed between the pivot hole 43 and the pivotbore 42.

Each of the two support units 2 is located between the base unit 1 and arespective one of the two leg units 4 and includes a mounting sleeve 22mounted on the support rod 11 of the base unit 1, and a support brace 21having a first portion connected with the mounting sleeve 22 and asecond portion pivotally connected with the two support legs 41 of therespective leg unit 4. The support brace 21 of each of the two supportunits 2 has a substantially inverted V-shaped profile and is locatedunder the support frame 31 of a respective one of the two frame units 3.The second portion of the support brace 21 of each of the two supportunits 2 is provided with two pivot pieces 23 each pivotally connectedwith the pivot bore 42 of a respective one of the two support legs 41 ofthe respective leg unit 4 by a pintle 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base unit 1further includes two limit rings 14 each secured on the support rod 11of the base unit 1 and each abutting the mounting sleeve 22 of arespective one of the two support units 2 to limit the mounting sleeve22 of the respective support unit 2 on the support rod 11 of the baseunit 1. The mounting sleeves 22 of the two support units 2 are limitedbetween the limit rings 14 of the base unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support brace21 of each of the two support units 2 has a diameter smaller than thatof the support rod 11 of the base unit 1, that of the support frame 31of each of the two frame units 3 and that of each of the two supportlegs 41 of each of the two leg units 4.

When the bed is disposed at an expanded state, each of the two frameunits 3 is located between the base unit 1 and a respective one of thetwo leg units 4, and each of the two support units 2 is located betweenthe base unit 1 and a respective one of the two leg units 4, so that thebase unit 1, each of the two support units 2, each of the two frameunits 3 and each of the two leg units 4 construct a four-link mechanismto form a strong support structure, and the bed is expanded solidly andstably.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 with reference to FIGS. 1-3,when the base unit 1 is lifted, each of the two frame units 3 is pivotedand moved downward relative to the base unit 1, and each of the twosupport units 2 is also pivoted and moved downward relative to the baseunit 1 so that each of the two leg units 4 is pivoted and moved downwardrelative to each of the two frame units 3 and each of the two supportunits 2 as shown in FIG. 3. In such a manner, the two support units 2are moved toward each other, the two frame units 3 are moved toward eachother, and the two leg units 4 are moved toward each other as shown inFIG. 4 so as to fold the bed as shown in FIG. 5. At this time, the twosupport legs 41 of each of the two leg units 4 are disposed at anupright state when the bed is folded so that the folded bed is disposedat a standing state.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bed further comprises a mattress 5 mounted onthe two frame units 3 and supported by the support frame 31 of each ofthe two frame units 3.

Accordingly, the base unit 1, each of the two support units 2, each ofthe two frame units 3 and each of the two leg units 4 construct afour-link mechanism so that the bed can be expanded for use and can befolded when not in use, thereby enhancing the versatility of the bed. Inaddition, a user only needs to lift the base unit 1 to fold the bed sothat the bed can be folded easily and quickly, thereby facilitating theuser folding the bed.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A bed, comprising: a base unit; two frame units each having a firstportion pivotally connected with the base unit; two leg units eachpivotally connected with a second portion of a respective one of the twoframe units; and two support units each having a first portion pivotallyconnected with the base unit and a second portion pivotally connectedwith a respective one of the two leg units.
 2. The bed of claim 1,wherein the base unit includes a support rod, two upright posts mountedon two opposite ends of the support rod, and two connecting bracketseach mounted on an upper end of a respective one of the two uprightposts; each of the two frame units includes a support frame having afirst portion pivotally connected with the two connecting brackets ofthe base unit, and two mounting brackets mounted on a second portion ofthe support frame; each of the two leg units includes two support legseach pivotally connected with a respective one of the two mountingbrackets of the respective frame unit, and a connecting rod mountedbetween the two support legs; each of the two support units includes amounting sleeve mounted on the support rod of the base unit, and asupport brace having a first portion connected with the mounting sleeveand a second portion pivotally connected with the two support legs ofthe respective leg unit.
 3. The bed of claim 2, wherein the firstportion of the support frame of each of the two frame units is formedwith two connecting holes each pivotally connected with a respective oneof the two connecting brackets of the base unit by a connecting pin. 4.The bed of claim 2, wherein each of the two support legs of each of thetwo leg units has an upper end formed with a pivot hole pivotallyconnected with the respective mounting bracket of the respective frameunit by a pivot pin.
 5. The bed of claim 4, wherein each of the twosupport legs of each of the two leg units has a lower end formed with apivot bore; the second portion of the support brace of each of the twosupport units is provided with two pivot pieces each pivotally connectedwith the pivot bore of a respective one of the two support legs of therespective leg unit by a pintle.
 6. The bed of claim 2, wherein the baseunit further includes two limit rings each secured on the support rod ofthe base unit and each abutting the mounting sleeve of a respective oneof the two support units to limit the mounting sleeve of the respectivesupport unit on the support rod of the base unit.
 7. The bed of claim 2,wherein the support brace of each of the two support units has adiameter smaller than that of the support rod of the base unit, that ofthe support frame of each of the two frame units and that of each of thetwo support legs of each of the two leg units.
 8. The bed of claim 2,wherein the bed further comprises a mattress mounted on the two frameunits and supported by the support frame of each of the two frame units.9. The bed of claim 2, wherein the base unit has a substantiallyH-shaped profile.
 10. The bed of claim 2, wherein the support frame ofeach of the two frame units has a substantially U-shaped profile. 11.The bed of claim 2, wherein each of the two leg units has asubstantially H-shaped profile.
 12. The bed of claim 2, wherein thesupport brace of each of the two support units has a substantiallyinverted V-shaped profile.
 13. The bed of claim 1, wherein the baseunit, each of the two support units, each of the two frame units andeach of the two leg units construct a four-link mechanism.
 14. The bedof claim 1, wherein the base unit is disposed between the two frameunits; the base unit is disposed between the two support units.
 15. Thebed of claim 2, wherein each of the two connecting brackets of the baseunit has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile; each of thetwo mounting brackets of each of the two frame units has a substantiallyinverted L-shaped profile; each of the two mounting brackets of each ofthe two frame units is located under the support frame.
 16. The bed ofclaim 2, wherein the support rod of the base unit is located between thetwo upright posts; each of the two connecting brackets of the base unitis located above the support rod.
 17. The bed of claim 2, wherein eachof the two frame units is located between the base unit and a respectiveone of the two leg units; each of the two support units is locatedbetween the base unit and a respective one of the two leg units; the twoconnecting brackets of the base unit are pivotally connected between thesupport frames of the two frame units.
 18. The bed of claim 5, whereinthe connecting rod of each of the two leg units is disposed between thepivot hole and the pivot bore.
 19. The bed of claim 2, wherein thesupport brace of each of the two support units is located under thesupport frame of a respective one of the two frame units.
 20. The bed ofclaim 6, wherein the mounting sleeves of the two support units arelimited between the limit rings of the base unit.